A beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon turned into a wet and windy Homecoming night for the Tinora faithful.

As soon as the Tinora Homecoming King and Queen of Dakota Sines and Jason DeWyse were announced, Mother Nature unleashed winds and heavy rains at Justin F Coressel Stadium, causing havoc throughout the next three hours.

In a must-win conference game for both teams, the Rams entered the game with a 4-3 mark, 3-1 in the GMC, while the Paulding Panthers came in sporting a 5-2 record, also 3-1 in conference play.

Paulding came in with the conference’s leading offense, 385 yards a game, and also the conference’s leading rusher in Kobe Foor, 106 YPG.

As Tinora’s Jacob Bishop placed the ball on the tee to start the game, the Heavens let loose horrible conditions for both teams.

After the Rams defense held Paulding on the first series of the contest. Graziani and the Rams looked to get rolling, and rolling they did.

The Tinora offense would waste little time lighting up the scoreboard as Dominic Graziani hit Owen Ackerman with a 36-yard TD. Bishop’s XP gave the Rams a 7-0 lead with 9:03 remaining in the initial quarter.

Graziani and Ackerman would again connect, this time from 28 yards out with 2:27 left in the first quarter, Bishop’s XP would increase the Tinora lead to 14-0.

The Rams rushing game took front and center in the second quarter. Grady Gustwiller would pound it in from three yards out, after the Bishop XP, Tinora led 21-0 with 10:04 remaining in the second quarter.

Tinora’s Gustwiller hit pay dirt again at the 7:02 mark in the half, this time from 13 yards out, Bishop’s XP increased the Tinora lead to 28-0.

The Ram train kept on rolling at the 4:49 marker of the half as Joey Guisinger jetted in from 13 yards out, XP by Bishop gave Tinora a 35-0 lead. Tinora took the 35-0 to the locker room.

The Rams defense dominated the first half, limiting the high-powered Paulding offense to just 95 total yards, 41 on the ground. Kobe Foor gained just 17 yards on 8 carries in the half for the Panthers, Foor and leading tackler Jack Woods would not see action in the second half.

The Tinora offense pounded out 142 yards rushing, 214and total first first-half yards.

Coach Menzie and the Panthers could never get on track Friday night.

The second half started with a running clock with the big Tinora lead, 35-0.

Dominic Graziani put a cap on the four-yard night with a four yard TD run, increasing the Tinora lead after the Bishop XP to 42-0.

As the starters began to exit, Owen Ferrell entered for Graziani and it WR Kadyn Radzik for an eight-yard score, Bishop again added the XP, and the Rams were rolling to a 49-0 lead with four-yard:45four-yard seconds left in the third quarter.

Tinora put a cap on the Homecoming night with a Devon Luellen four yard TD with 6:20 remaining in the final quarter. Bishop ended the scoring on the night, supplying his seventh XP, increasing the Tinora lead to 56-0.

The Tinora defense staff led by Casey Helton had a fantastic game plan, limiting the Panthers to -24 yards in the second half on 13 plays.

Paulding 0-0-0-0=0
Tinora 14-21-14-7=56

1st Ackerman 36 yd TD from Graziani (Bishop XP)
1st Ackerman 28 yd Pass from Graziani (Bishop XP)
2nd Gustwiller 3 yd run (Bishop XP)
2nd Gustwiller 13 yd run (Bishop XP)
2nd Guisinger 13 yd run (Bishop XP)
3rd Graziani 4 yd TD run (Bishop XP)
3rd Radzik TD pass from O Ferrell (Bishop XP)
4th Luellen TD run (Bishop XP)

Tinora Paulding
First Downs: 8 6
Rushing/Att 37/190 25/15
Passing 4/6/86/3/0 3/17/57/0/1
Plays/Total Yds 43/276 42/72
Penalty 4/20 2/10

Tinora Passing: Graziani 3-4/74/2/0; O. Ferrell 1/2/12/1
Tinora rushing: Gustwiller 11/58 3 TD; Graziani 9/36/1 TD; Guisinger 8/60/1 TD; Luellen 6/22/1 TD; Jimenez 2/10.
Tinora Receiving: Ackerman 2/63/2 TD; Roesti 1/11; Radzik 1/12/1 TD

Paulding Passing: Fife 3/13/53; Hunt 1/4/4
Paulding Rushing: Evans 1/1; Larson 1 -3; Fife 5/4; Shaffer 2 -4; Woods 5/6; Foor 8/17; Williams 1/1; Hunt 1 -15
Paulding receiving: Rhonehouse 2/53; Manz 1/4

Tinora improved to 5-3, 4-1 in the GMC. The Rams will travel to Edgerton on Friday.

Tinora clinched a playoff spot with the win, but has to win the last two to secure a home playoff game.

Paulding drops to 5-3, 3-2 in conference play.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Owen Ackerman.

NOTE: The Rams introduced a T on the sides of their helmets tonight, a very nice, clean look. It’s the first time in decades that Tinora has had a logo on its helmets. (pic by Sarah Harris below)

NOTE II. Jason DeWyse also sang the national anthem prior to kickoff after being crowned King.

Helmets pics – Sarah Harris
Prom Pics – Mr. Nafziger